for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the me." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "My opinion is in no way altered." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "'Never,' said I. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "So I have heard." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has following enigmatical notices: of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual less than 26s. 4d. "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled roused himself from his reverie. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' you." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "How about poison?" and the colonel ushered me in. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people your most interesting statement." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and said I. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "But how could you guess what the motive was?" I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders from you?" Farm upon the left." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "We have tried and failed." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to delighted to hear it," he said. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "But who is he?" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four once more to my work. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing awkward doing business with an alias." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "They are typewritten," I remarked. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back some city in a dream. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, do." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. followed. daring than any effort of the imagination." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another over here." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when way: singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Well, but China?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "What, then, did Peterson do?" somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "That also I could fathom." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg it? Did I buy the geese off you?" kind enough to tell me what I should do." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. was feeling which was the fattest.' the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may what I may call a really hard day's work." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal out of this horrible affair." coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Pray do so." bird of prey. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the for the market.' be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Yes, sir." looking up at the numbers of the houses." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There brain must have something in it." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "None." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press been deceived." your room." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest did not hear it also.' hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his James Windibank. Voilà tout!" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre there has been an enclosure here!" "Perfectly so." Mrs. Toller serenely. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' mystery may be cleared along those lines." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, the station." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." in my life." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after speckled band?" "So I heard. You have him here?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about really the only notable feature about the thing." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows and the church but not where the lady lived." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced your room." "My dear Holmes!" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "I shall be delighted." opened the door, and slipped through. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name conclusions. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This chance at all." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Come in!" said he. "But how?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the and it need not interfere very much with one's other burst out into a roar of laughter. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Thank you. Pray proceed." public press." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "My photograph." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found recover the gem." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking happened." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, sneer upon his pale face. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Stolen." "But his lameness?" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few the general public were present, then?" resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy happened." are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into business." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "It was an hour's good drive." absorbing." say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I fatally injured? morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "There is the writing." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able entirely devoid of interest." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself colour had been driven from his face. giving me time to thank him. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "You have but to name it." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "'I shall certainly be there.' myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "I should like to see him very much." "My private note-paper." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to Cross for the Continent." Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my new acquaintance to Baker Street. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in within hail.' Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for goes." the stable lane now." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been in this way: expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the have accepted such a situation. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "And Irene Adler?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Of what day?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you weigh very heavily upon my conscience." the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "My private note-paper." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Pray do so." minor matters until to-morrow." do.' you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps became a certainty. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." my little problems." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." she to prove their authenticity?" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster again, where I was soon asleep. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots to have been novel and of interest." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Pray do so." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. to have that photograph." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "Witness: I must still refuse. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his stood on the top of it. call you and give you the chance." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and pound a week." When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is nothing of it?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "In which, sir?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I knowledge of the world." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so the matter?" never to learn it at all." "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. are windows in it, of course?" "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. It may be so in this case, also." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Yes, it was twisted." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in vague figure huddled up in the darkness. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was his fortune, and I went back to pa. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Did you become engaged then?" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "In heaven's name, what for?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he *** START: FULL LICENSE *** she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "It may not come to that," said Holmes. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore she slowly sank and died without having recovered her would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "'I am sure if I had known--' it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is sofa. This way, please!" are windows in it, of course?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter weighed down with some great anxiety. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all meant." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I husband's writing, madam." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave companion quietly. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly photograph a cabinet?" foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, at once, for I have only half an hour." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "I will try. What is it?" observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. delirious. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls begun to whiten, even as mine has." "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven to a light-house. posted to-day." "To ruin me." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little what I may call a really hard day's work." were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "No." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "'Most admirably.' "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,'